The Police on Thursday said they had arrested 814 suspects over alleged terrorism, murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, unlawful possession of firearms and other criminal offences nationwide in two months.
The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, said this at the opening of a conference with Strategic Police Mangers in Abuja on Thursday.
The Strategic Police Managers comprises officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police and above.
Egbetokun said that 35 of the suspects were arrested over terrorism and secessionist attacks while 302 for murder, 111 for armed robbery, 172 for kidnapping, 67 for banditry and 15, unlawful possession of firearms.
He said that 166 firearms, 1,074 ammunition and 41 vehicles were recovered from the suspects with 107 kidnapped victims rescued between December 2023 and January 2024.
The I-G said the arrests and recoveries followed the execution of the strategies and plans formulated at the Dec. 6, 2023 conference.
He said the recurring security breaches in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) witnessed in the late 2023 and early January 2024, led to the inauguration of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS).
Egbetokun said that the inauguration was a significant stride towards fortifying the security landscape in the capital city.
He pointed out that among the successes recorded as a result of the Launch included the arrest of a notorious kidnap kingpin in the Bwari axis, and two others.
“Apart from engaging in kidnapping, the suspects form part of the network of spies providing information on potential victims to other criminal gangs and syndicates.
“Again, the SIS in conjunction with some officers from the police command in the FCT and vigilantes stormed a kidnapping syndicate camp in Nasarawa State.
“This led to the rescue of 14 hostages unhurt after a fierce gun battle,” he said.
The I-G said that operatives from the Police command in Rivers, on Jan. 13 rescued 10 kidnapped victims and reunited them with their families.
He said the victims were rescued following a distress call received that an 18-seater bus coming from Owerri to Port Harcourt was attacked by unknown gunmen along Umuanwa/Ubima Road.
He said that police operatives immediately raced to the scene and engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, leading to the rescue of 10 of the victims.
Egbetokun added that efforts were being intensified to locate and rescue the other missing victims.